Dhoni rested for first Test against Australia; Rahul, Karn get call-ups

Mumbai: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been rested for the first match of the four-Test series starting Dec 4 against Australia while Karnataka opening batsman K.L. Rahul and Railways leg-spinner Karn Sharma received call-ups to the 19-member squad announced Monday.

Virat Kohli will lead the Indian team in the first Test of the series, which will be preceded by two two-day practice games in November.

“Virat Kohli will lead India in the first Test, starting on 4 December 2014, in Brisbane. M.S. Dhoni has been rested for the first Test as a prophylactic measure to ensure optimum recovery. He will join the team from the second Test onwards, and will lead the team for the rest of the Test series,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Patel said.

Left-hander Suresh Raina has returned to the squad after two years while Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper Naman Ojha will be Bengal glovesman Wriddhiman Saha’s back-up for the first Test.

Right-hander batsman Rahul was a serious contender for the reserve opener’s slot after scoring centuries in each innings of the Duleep Trophy final against Central Zone at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi Oct 29-Dec 2. In the previous season of the Ranji Trophy, the 22-year-old accumulated 1,158 runs to become the second highest scorer.

The selectors have picked five pacers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron while the spin department got an addition in the form of Meerut-based spinner Karn, who made his Twenty20 debut against England.